Pumpkin Pizza Rolls

Pizza lovers rejoice! Pumpkin purée, cheese, and pizza dough combine to make a delicious and super kid-friendly way to enjoy pumpkin. You can make your own pizza dough with more pumpkin purée mixed right in or use store-bought pizza dough for a quicker option. Either way, it’s a great recipe to get kids into the kitchen and explore the orange veggie of the month.

This recipe was developed by Heather Staller, a mom of two boys, ages 7 and 5, and cooking instructor specializing in bringing cooking into preschool classrooms. After college, Heather knew she wanted to be a teacher, but first followed her lifelong dream of going to culinary school. Teaching cooking combines both of her passions, and she truly enjoys introducing young children to the joys of cooking with fresh ingredients. Find Heather on Instagram (@heather.happykidskitchen), where she shares inventive kid-friendly recipes and ideas for cooking with kids at home.

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Pumpkin Pizza Rolls

INGREDIENTS

• 1 recipe of homemade pumpkin pizza dough (recipe below) or 1 package of pre-made pizza dough (about 1 pound)
  
• 6 tablespoons pumpkin purée (canned or homemade)
  
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  
• Pinch of salt
  
• 1 cup baby spinach, chopped (optional)
  
• 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a round or square baking pan with parchment or grease well with oil.
   
2. Roll pizza dough out as thin as possible making a large rectangle measuring about 15-by-12 inches. If using a ball of store bought pizza dough, it may take some time to get the dough rolled thin.
   
3. In a small bowl, mix pumpkin purée, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and salt. Spread pumpkin mixture evenly across the pizza dough rectangle, leaving a small border around the edges.
   
4. If using spinach, sprinkle evenly over the pumpkin layer then add a layer of shredded mozzarella.
   
5. Starting with the longer side, roll the dough into a log. Cut into 12 equal rounds then place them in the prepared pan. Bake until cheese is bubbly and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.

Homemade Pumpkin Pizza Dough

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
  
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
  
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  
• 1/2 cup pumpkin purée (canned or homemade)
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 1 teaspoon honey (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add flours, baking powder, and salt to a large bowl or the bowl of a food processor. Mix to combine.
   
2. Add the pumpkin in a 1 cup liquid measuring cup then add enough water to make 1 cup of pumpkin and water mixed. Add pumpkin mixture, olive oil, and honey to the bowl/food processor and mix until no dry flour remains. If dough is too dry, add another tablespoon of water at a time. Remove dough and knead on the counter to get a uniform ball of dough. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes before using.

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"Pumpkin Power!"

This month we're featuring pumpkin at Veggie Buds Club! If you'd like access to tons of kid-friendly pumpkin recipes, pumpkin crafts, pumpkin games, pumpkin growing projects, and more you can purchase our "Pumpkin Power!" Box or Digital Activity Book here.